Would You Recommend A...?

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Would you recommend a non-accredited school? Well, the reason why I'm asking this question is because, time and time again, when the issue is discussed about non-accredited schools, some people come out in defense of these schools, sometimes even in an angry fashion, accusing others of academic snubbery.

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Active Member

Would you recommend a non-accredited school? Well, the reason why I'm asking this question is because, time and time again, when the issue is discussed about non-accredited schools, some people come out in defense of these schools, sometimes even in an angry fashion, accusing others of academic snubbery.

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==I don't know that I would ever recommend a non-accredited school "up-front" (so to speak). But, considering the situation, I may say that a non-accredited school would work (ie...meet that person's goals). However I will usually only recommend accredited schools because, being very pragmatic here, they are more widely accepted.

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New Member

==I don't know that I would ever recommend a non-accredited school "up-front" (so to speak). But, considering the situation, I may say that a non-accredited school would work (ie...meet that person's goals). However I will usually only recommend accredited schools because, being very pragmatic here, they are more widely accepted.

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I'm in accord, but I've heard you guys recommended Whitefield and CES and maybe a couple others.

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I'm in accord, but I've heard you guys recommended Whitefield and CES and maybe a couple others.

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Bro Greek,

I hope you are well.

Although most of us who teach college, seminary, or grad school at RA or ATS schools and are credentialed by same would not "throw out the baby with the bath water." And b/c of that, I believe that we would take each school on a casuistic basis--that is on a case by case basis.

Another school that you might want to throw into the above mix is Southern Evangelical Seminary. Some schools want accreditation, others do not. A case in point could possibly be Bob Jones U. Although I do not know where they are in the mix presently.

As has been discussed before here on the BB at length ad infinitum ad nauseum is the need for and results of accreditation. IT IS NOT A "BE ALL--END ALL" in the academe for sure. But it does give some level of warrantee (sp?) of minimum standards.

It seems so me (IMHO), that the schools mentioned above are "light years ahead" of Covington et al that have also been "discussed to death."

I would think that you would trust us to know what and how we would make our recommendations even up to the point of teaching, mentoring, or consulting for such individual case institutions.

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New Member

Would you recommend a non-accredited school? Well, the reason why I'm asking this question is because, time and time again, when the issue is discussed about non-accredited schools, some people come out in defense of these schools, sometimes even in an angry fashion, accusing others of academic snubbery.

Click to expand...

Yes, I would. I am currently attending Masters Divinity School in Evansville Indiana. I am very pleased with them so far.

Now I would warn anyone just what a non-accredited school is. If you have plans that would require accreditation then thats where you should go.

I love the seminary extension program the SBC seminaries support and have taken many classes through them. There classes are all fully accredited. They have live classroom and independent study options. What I don't like is that you cannot earn a degree through them but the classes will transfer to a degree program elsewhere. Several friends who have taken seminary extension classes with me transferred their credits to Covington when they decided to go ahead and get a degree.

Covington is non-accredited but the pastors I know who have taken their classes were happy with the results and have recomended them to me. I considered them but ended up going with MDS.

If you, like me, already have an accredited degree and are more interested in learning something than adding letters to your signiture block, then yes I would recommend them.

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Yes, I would. I am currently attending Masters Divinity School in Evansville Indiana. I am very pleased with them so far.

Now I would warn anyone just what a non-accredited school is. If you have plans that would require accreditation then thats where you should go.

I love the seminary extension program the SBC seminaries support and have taken many classes through them. There classes are all fully accredited. They have live classroom and independent study options. What I don't like is that you cannot earn a degree through them but the classes will transfer to a degree program elsewhere. Several friends who have taken seminary extension classes with me transferred their credits to Covington when they decided to go ahead and get a degree.

Covington is non-accredited but the pastors I know who have taken their classes were happy with the results and have recomended them to me. I considered them but ended up going with MDS.

If you, like me, already have an accredited degree and are more interested in learning something than adding letters to your signiture block, then yes I would recommend them.

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Bro. Tentmaker,

It seems by your above comments that "love" and "happy" or "pleased with them" are your standards by which you have judged a school's standards? Is this true? If it is, then why is it true? Should these be the standards?

I have had many many classes with which I was not very "happy" or that I did not "love" at the time. But, later I trusted and was elated with the rigor with which my profs made me work b/c of what I learned!!!!

One of the major issues that is argued in favor of RA or ATS accredited seminary and grad school work in Religion here is their rigor. Most of us just do not believe, across the board, that the rigor of the schools you have mentioned that you "love" or make you "happy" are all that rigorous.

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New Member

Yes, I would. I am currently attending Masters Divinity School in Evansville Indiana. I am very pleased with them so far.

Now I would warn anyone just what a non-accredited school is. If you have plans that would require accreditation then thats where you should go.

I love the seminary extension program the SBC seminaries support and have taken many classes through them. There classes are all fully accredited. They have live classroom and independent study options. What I don't like is that you cannot earn a degree through them but the classes will transfer to a degree program elsewhere. Several friends who have taken seminary extension classes with me transferred their credits to Covington when they decided to go ahead and get a degree.

Covington is non-accredited but the pastors I know who have taken their classes were happy with the results and have recomended them to me. I considered them but ended up going with MDS.

If you, like me, already have an accredited degree and are more interested in learning something than adding letters to your signiture block, then yes I would recommend them.

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Tentmaker,

1. I glad you found a school that you're happy with. But like the guys, who are more in tuned with these issue than I am, have from time and time again, given the disadvantages of going to non-accredited schools.

2. To be honest, my list of good non-accredited schools is very short. From what the guys have been saying, I think Whitefield Theological Seminary and CES are only two. I'm not too sure about LBU until hear from the guys.

3. But I fully endorse their reasons for avoiding the non-accredited schools.

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New Member

It seems by your above comments that "love" and "happy" or "pleased with them" are your standards by which you have judged a school's standards? Is this true? If it is, then why is it true? Should these be the standards?

I have had many many classes with which I was not very "happy" or that I did not "love" at the time. But, later I trusted and was elated with the rigor with which my profs made me work b/c of what I learned!!!!

One of the major issues that is argued in favor of RA or ATS accredited seminary and grad school work in Religion here is their rigor. Most of us just do not believe, across the board, that the rigor of the schools you have mentioned that you "love" or make you "happy" are all that rigorous.

I ask your indulgence or forgiveness if I have offended?!raying:

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

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No of course you have not offended. And you are right, happy and love are not the best standards in the world. The question is why am I happy with them? Rigor is also not a great standard. As I have stated before doctrinal purity would be my first standard. I would also rank applicability and personal growth ahead of rigor. Also some level of teach ability and how the information sticks with you.

I have taken many accredited classes, through seminary extension I took 14 undergraduate classes that are all fully accredited and would transfer to any school. Also I have an accredited engineering bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech that would transfer into any engineering masters program. The rigor of the classes I am taking from MDS is greater than that of the accredited undergraduate classes I have taken. My brother has an accredited PhD and teaches at an accredited University. His comments on reviewing my work is that it exceeds the work of secular PhD candidates that he oversees.

I have taken very rigorous engineering classes that required many hours of work to complete, but that have no bearing on my work today and to be honest most of the information gained in them is lost. I remember as a freshman in engineering school taking drafting classes and spending many hours learning mechanical drafting methods. The next year autocad came out and my expensive collection of drafting tools is seldom used today.

I understand your and TCGreek's love of accredited programs, but in my opinion many of those programs charge you thousands of dollars for a name on a diploma but fail to teach the practical information required to operate a church and grow in Christ. The disadvantages of non accredited programs are few. Lack of transferability, and lack of recognition by other academics are all I can think of. The advantages of cost, allowing students to keep their jobs and provide for their families, and study at their own pace are great.

I don't see how I could have enrolled in a traditional accredited program. I have a full time job; have served as interim pastor of 4 different churches. I have 4 kids that my wife and I home school. I am in debt up to my ears. MDS let me work at my own pace. I have been working in the doctoral program for about 3 years now and have completed 5 classes. I am paying them $50 per month. There books are all provided on cd so you don't have book costs unless you want to go buy them. This is a program that works for me.

What amazes me to no end is why the accredited crew is always bashing unaccredited programs. How does my unaccredited degree hurt you? I am not trying to take your job. Do you feel like my degree somehow cheapens yours? That would be like me being offended because some kid wants to study engineering at tri county tech. My degree is from Ga Tech and to the people that matter the value of my degree does not drop because of his.

I do understand that some unaccredited programs try to sell themselves as something they are not. But the students should know better. But other than that I can't see why you are so passionately opposed to these schools. Well this post is too long, thanks to anyone who took the time to read it.

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New Member

You know I had another thought about the rigor of different programs that I wanted to share. As a 40 year old parent going to school part time and trying desperately to lean something so that I can do a better job my priorities are very different than they were when I was a teenager. My classes today are more rigorous but perhaps the difference is more with me than with the classes. I am no longer interested in meeting the minimum requirements but on maximizing the benefits I receive from each class. 20 years ago that was not my attitude and I have the grade transcripts to prove it. If I could take the same classes today that I did then I would put a lot more into them.

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Active Member

No of course you have not offended. And you are right, happy and love are not the best standards in the world. The question is why am I happy with them? Rigor is also not a great standard. As I have stated before doctrinal purity would be my first standard. I would also rank applicability and personal growth ahead of rigor. Also some level of teach ability and how the information sticks with you.

I have taken many accredited classes, through seminary extension I took 14 undergraduate classes that are all fully accredited and would transfer to any school. Also I have an accredited engineering bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech that would transfer into any engineering masters program. The rigor of the classes I am taking from MDS is greater than that of the accredited undergraduate classes I have taken. My brother has an accredited PhD and teaches at an accredited University. His comments on reviewing my work is that it exceeds the work of secular PhD candidates that he oversees.

I have taken very rigorous engineering classes that required many hours of work to complete, but that have no bearing on my work today and to be honest most of the information gained in them is lost. I remember as a freshman in engineering school taking drafting classes and spending many hours learning mechanical drafting methods. The next year autocad came out and my expensive collection of drafting tools is seldom used today.

I understand your and TCGreek's love of accredited programs, but in my opinion many of those programs charge you thousands of dollars for a name on a diploma but fail to teach the practical information required to operate a church and grow in Christ. The disadvantages of non accredited programs are few. Lack of transferability, and lack of recognition by other academics are all I can think of. The advantages of cost, allowing students to keep their jobs and provide for their families, and study at their own pace are great.

I don't see how I could have enrolled in a traditional accredited program. I have a full time job; have served as interim pastor of 4 different churches. I have 4 kids that my wife and I home school. I am in debt up to my ears. MDS let me work at my own pace. I have been working in the doctoral program for about 3 years now and have completed 5 classes. I am paying them $50 per month. There books are all provided on cd so you don't have book costs unless you want to go buy them. This is a program that works for me.

What amazes me to no end is why the accredited crew is always bashing unaccredited programs. How does my unaccredited degree hurt you? I am not trying to take your job. Do you feel like my degree somehow cheapens yours? That would be like me being offended because some kid wants to study engineering at tri county tech. My degree is from Ga Tech and to the people that matter the value of my degree does not drop because of his.

I do understand that some unaccredited programs try to sell themselves as something they are not. But the students should know better. But other than that I can't see why you are so passionately opposed to these schools. Well this post is too long, thanks to anyone who took the time to read it.

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